*Work on 2nd Phase of TFC likely to begin shortly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 16: In order to boost cross-LoC trade between divided parts of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs is holding detailed deliberations on proposals mooted by the concerned authorities of the State as well as Union Governments tomorrow. Several other proposals including modernization of Jammu and Kashmir Police and enhancement in ex-gratia amount being given to the victims of the terrorist attacks are also on agenda of the meeting.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that Secretary (Internal Security) of Ministry of Home Affairs, who is also the Chairman of the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Committee, has called a meeting of the SRE Standing Committee in North Block tomorrow afternoon.
Jammu and Kashmir would be represented by either Principal Secretary (Home) or Director General of Police and senior officers of the Industries and Commerce Department of the State. All the details vis-à-vis nine proposals to be discussed by the Ministry of Home Affairs have already been furnished by the concerned authorities of the State to the Ministry.
As boosting cross-LoC trade is the part of the Agenda of Alliance of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government in the State and is being considered as major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan by the NDA Government headed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the proposals in this regard would be discussed on priority by the SRE Standing Committee, sources informed.
For the smooth functioning of the cross-LoC trade at Trade Facilitation Centers (TFCs) at Salamabad in Uri and Chakan-Da-bagh in Poonch, the Union Home Secretary during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on February 9, 2015 had agreed to engage manpower on consolidated basis and accordingly the State Government was asked to furnish proposal in this regard.
The J&K has already projected requirement of manpower with the request to the Ministry of Home Affairs to authorize/sanction the engagement of staff on consolidated basis and release of Rs 30.14 lakh per year, sources said while disclosing that SRE Standing Committee would take decision on proposal in this regard in tomorrow’s meeting.
Apart from manpower, construction of 2nd Phase of Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Chakan-da-Bagh would also come up for discussion. “The concerned authorities of J&K have already submitted revised project for 2nd Phase of TFC at Ranger Nallah in Poonch district to the MHA as per the directions issued by the Joint Secretary MHA in a meeting held on October 23, 2015”, sources said, adding the 2nd Phase of TRC would have all the facilities required for the smooth cross-LoC trade and for the convenience of the traders.
Even a proposal regarding purchase of covered trucks for use in the cross-LoC trade would come up for discussion, sources said while disclosing that J&K has projected requirement of around 300 such trucks and the main objective behind introducing covered trucks is to check smuggling of narcotics and other objectionable items enroute and to make the traders of both the sides accountable for misuse of the trade for activities detrimental to the interests of both the sides.
According to the sources, proposal of State Government regarding modernization of J&K Police would also be important point to be discussed during the meeting. It may be recalled that funds under Police Modernization Scheme of the MHA for the current financial year could not be released to State due to delay in submission of Utilization Certificates and State officers would explain the hurdles in meeting this requirement while requesting for prompt release of sanctioned funds.
“J&K has also sought increase in ex-gratia amount given to the civilians killed in terrorist incidents and to the J&K Policemen/employees of the State Government killed in such incidents. Moreover, the J&K has projected requirement of enhancement of Government of India’s component in ex-gratia relief for J&K Police Personnel”, sources said while disclosing that both these proposals would also be deliberated upon by the SRE Standing Committee.
They further disclosed that proposals of J&K regarding financial grant amounting to Rs 6.60 crore for upgradation of J&K Police Public School and financial grant amounting to Rs 5 crore for establishment of Police Pariwar Fund are also part of the agenda of the meeting. The SRE Standing Committee would also deliberate upon the ex-post facto approval for reimbursement of expenditure incurred by the Government of NCR of Delhi on account of Adhoc Monthly Relief to the Kashmiri migrants living in Delhi/NCR under SRE (R&R).
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